C'est Pâques ..soon~

So I have been busy in the kitchen..it's off season here for everything.
Not enough snow to snowshoe..
Way too early to garden..
We did go and see The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel with one of our daughters..
It was good..not as good as the first though.I do admire that cast tremendously.
Judy Dench is 81..she looks fantastic..I love her clothes  in those movies..all that linene..all that fabric..I don't see any evidence of face lifts..etc..just a gorgeous face.
Maggie Smith 81 also..again..no artifice..a lovely face that still looks like Maggie Smith..
To be so fortunate at 81.I just love them to bits.
They are both..:"Dame"~
I must admit at the end..it was a bit exhausting trying to hold back tears  thinking we would witness a moment..at every step..I thought here it comes..the tears would well  and  then dissipate.
Nice little outing .Took the routine out of the week~
Actually it was quite unroutine like..Tuesday I took Jacques to lunch for his birthday..about an hour away.. what are the odds of your son-in-law..being in the adjacent booth?
Imagine..we hardly go out..and there he was with one of his reps.:)
Wednesday we babysat Noah..and I showed him how to cut the tops off choux..and fill with whipped cream..sprinkles and icing sugar~
Oli took the routine out of the weekend on Saturday.Tell me..I only had girls myself..now I only have boys..but I can't remember my girls lifting a marble rolling pin over their fragile little heads....and using it as "weights"..saying:"Look Nana I'm strong"~
There's the proof up above.
We baked cookies..the same sugar cookies..  and I had only made a 1/2 recipe..I was able to make the 4 x-large eggs..and we were able to make numerous small cookies with the leftover dough~
I think he used about 10 different cutters:)
Bunnies..chicks..animals..Angry Birds..I love baking with kids..everything is fun for them.
I did make some while I was alone..I had picked up a BIG egg cookie cutter at Williams-Sonoma at a truly great reduced price.It's in a shopping city..far..more than an hour away..where I took Jacques for lunch;)
It must be 5-6 inches high..I made one for each of the boys for their baskets.
I made plain round sugar cookies..added a wee bit of rolled fondant and added he Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit edible wafer papers.
They are soooo sweet!!
I found those on Ebay.from the UK.I think I do these things for me also.

Last night was our first epi of Call The Midwife.I thought I would miss Jennie..I do..but the cast carries on beautifully and I cried again.So moving..That little boys and his siters..:(..


I have a few more things to do..but I must tell you ..not a chore.Play.
I played with paints..also and wanted to try scanning..


Can anyone tell me why the white watercolor paper scans greyish?
I find whites are so hard to capture in photo backgrounds and scanning.
Help? Please?
The other thing I wanted to know..is how do we create a downloadable file to share on blogs?
I tried everything to no avail..
Cloud..Behance..Docstoc..
I watched you tube videos..I spent about 2 hours Sunday..I know it is good for our brain to try and learn..but the soul gets depleted after so many failed attemps~?
I seem to get it..but when I add the link on my blog..NOTHING HAPPENS.
Please?

La Recette  des "sugar cookies"  tirée du livre Sprinkle Bakes.
I have shred this before..w/ links etc..;)

I made half..so this is what I do..

1 stick of butter..I use salted always...she does not though.
1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 egg;)  This is easy..simply lightly beat one egg..measure..use half.
1 tsp of vanilla extract..I don't halve this and use the paste..that's why all my cookies have sprinkly tiny ,dark dots in them.
1/4 tsp of almond extract..I don't want the lmond overpowering for the boys..so I do  halve this.
1 1/2 cup of flour
I don't add the pinch of salt because my butter is perfectly salted.

In my KA..I blend the butter and sugar until just combined..don't overbeat.
Add egg and extracts.. combine..scraping down bowl..with half the recipe even more important.
I add my flour to that..and mix until it comes away from the bowl.
I have already prepared a cooking sheet with my Silpat..
I don't refrigerate.. I wrap and let rest..on my cool ceramic counter for a bit..it is cool enough here..in summer I do.. refrigerate..it;)
I lightly flour a board..roll and cut to the shapes I want..
I put the whole sheet w/ cut-outs..in my screened-in porch..that is unheated and frigid.For about 15 minutes..this summer I will refrigerate.
While the cut out shapes are chilling..
I pre-heat the oven to 350F

And bake ap 15-20 minutes.
Success every time..
Check them though..if they are bigger or smaller..keep an eye out..baking times will vary.
Cool on cooling racks..
When cool you can roll out fondant..the exact shape of your cookies..and apply w/ a gel (edible) or corn syrup..
Then you can add you wafer paper.. by cutting out the designs..and again adding a gel or corn syrup..that becomes your glue.

You can also just dip in a mleted candy melt..let dry..and addthe wafer paper in the sma manner..that's how the little button one is made.
I have a little tich for round wafer paper..once it is applied..a small piece of saran wrapping ith tightly will assure that the wafer paper adheres uniformly and tightly to even the periphery..
Lots of fun being had making wafer paper cookies.~


PS..
Yippee I figured it out!

Google Drive was the easiest way..

I think my problem was trying to view a download in a Preview mode..it works in published mode..
Now if I find something cute..I can scan save and share.

U Try It~ I did ♥

I love Peter Rabbit~
I loved the movie about Beatrix Potter~
And I think I would have loved her~Beatrix Potter..I was amazed ,when I read the tale of Peter Rabbit to Noah this week he had no clue who PR was!
This from the child that has every book imaginable..
I think Peter is out of favor here in QC.
In fact Jacques had never heard of him before me..
He said Peter Rabbit was not part of his French culture growing up..
I am French but my parents were bilingual..so perhaps that is why I had heard of him..

I am easily infatuated by artistic people.
Much more so..than financial people.
Or very technical people.
I admire them..I am in awe of them..I married one..
But I actually fall a little bit in love ..in a different way..with artistic ,creative people..photographers,artists,musicians,chefs.
My mom was a true artist..thus the love affair~♥
And the little wannabe part of me.
But I am not loose enough..too organized..too tidy..can't relax if my immediate surroundings are not..en ligne.
I was not always like that..when I started dating my husband..much to the concern of my dad..but my mom's 100% approval..
my dad actually told my husband....:"Have a look at her room..you will need a compass to dierct yourself once you walk in."
It was true.
My room had a black wall, a white wall and some kind of psychadelic black and white wallpaper..a single bed against that wall..and some kind of furry black throw..
most of my clothes were on the floor..a whirlwind..
I was 19.And this was 42 years ago..
My mom did everything for me..I am ashamed to say..she even made my bed as I sauntered off to university.McGill.
Marrying an engineer..made me re- assess my habits..
I could tell you 100 funny..now they are.. stories..that actually made me cry 41 years ago..

But w/ the years..I became ..a tidy nut.
So the artist flew away.
That's why I love...artists..most of the ones I have met..and gotten to know..  don't care about tidy..I am not generalizing..these are the artists I have come to know..could be very different for the artists you know..
And my mom was super tidy..but she had left her art behind..so many years before I knew her.
I love the stuff everywhere.. the art room that has paint and paintboxes ..and canvases..and LIGHT everywhere.
Pastel dust here and there.. oil on the floor..cookbooks that have pages turned and dirty..art stuck to the walls.I just can't function that way.
Wondering if Beatrix was that inclined..

Speaking of artists..Amy at UTryIt~  made me fall in love w/ a little Easter cookie scene she created..
I knew I had to make some to pop into the boys baskets..I like making the things that go in their baskets..
These cookie vignettes..I am wrapping individually..They have their own stand after all.
I made my regular sugar cookies..I had Matcha..the sprinkles..everything..so I was good to go apart from the Lindt bunnies..I have a small silicone mold..but the bunnies were just a bit samller and I wanted to make them like Amy did.
Plus a Lindt at Easter.is like a Laura Secord treat at Easter~
I couldn't add a flower in the bunnies ear..nor could I add roses..they are BOYS after all as they like to tell me.
But I am thinking of dollying one up for Donella if I see her..  or I will ask Myène if Giu is now too old for these.
You can let your imagination run wild..
Amy was kind enough to even include a video..Amy THANK you for sharing these ADORABLE Easter treats with us..
I am paying it forward for those who would have missed these;)
Bon Weekend~

Easter is less than 2 weeks away~

Are you starting to get ready?
I am.. I started sugar cookies,painted with Wilton Colors.
These keep very well..in tin boxes..in my cold room at this time of year.
We still have lots of snow ,but since Jacques snoblows pathways..those parts are to the grass..so the children can at least walk and pick and find their eggs on snowbanks..
Things could change though.In our province snow can leave in one week.With heat..
Fingers crossed.
I've started growing grass in baskets..and after only one week..it has sprouted..and growing..and I may need to mow;)
Donellas hyacinths are blooming ,I am one that loves their scent.
Smells like heavenly Spring.
Saturday ,we went to Caroline and Frédérick's with our family♥
The boys had made posters for grandad..and we were served a feast.
Caroline had cute black and white checked napkins and w/ our cutlery they were wrapped with the menu for the evening.
Mylène made a pumpernickle loaf w/dip..Caroline made these..Presented exactly like this..she used edamame though..the platters looked like spring on a plate..and even Lucas loved them.Times are a changing.
I cannot even imagine their food bill later on~
Not sure you can read the menu..I took the pic w/ my Ipad..
We had an apple fennel salad w/ breads..Ricardo's was the hit bread of the night.
Then the main course was a fabulous risotto..the serving trays for the risotto were bones that Fred obtained from the butcher..used the marrow..cleaned ..washed..cut..filed and polished..the presentation was superb.. we each had a medley of root vegetables including Jerusalem artichokes..half a roasted cornish hen and thin veal scallops that were fried and leaning over the cornish hens..
BEAU..I can never get over his artistic presentations.
And his finesse in the kitchen.Like second nature..no first.
I had made the Maple Cake Roll..but used a different cake recipe..no baking powder..and you beat 10 full minutes..again..no cracking..and you bake 10 full minutes...but add the flour after by spoonfuls,folding in..
The filling I made creamier..so the mélange soaked a bit more into the cake..that was Marie's idea.
I love when someone makes something I tried..but gives itan even better vibe.:)
I decided to add another dessert..while I had hungry people around me..
I fell upon a most beautiful blog..Fork and Flower..exquisite taste..the photography..the styling..♥..anyway I had pinned this recipe a LOOONG time ago..but didn't have a suitable mold..
Lo and behold I didn't find a recommeneded springform..but I did find this set..
and went ahead and made half the recipe and used pan #2.
So we had 2 smaller desserts instead of one big one..
The cake turned out beautifully.

My notes..as I said I mde half..I didn't have Calvados and I knew that...I can't bring myself to buying Calvados to make a few recipes..I used Sortilège,which is a QC liqueur ,maple flavored.It worked harmoniously.
In her recipe..if you can find when to add the caramelized walnuts please let me know.I went ahead and added to the batter(mine were pecans)..
And asked if that was right..I think so.
Beautiful cake..wonderful taste.
My glaze is that liquid gold I made a while ago and keep in the fridge..a thin burnished caramel you make stovetop and keep to glaze cookies or dishes such as these.
Yes ..yet another apple cake;)
I really do not think we can have too many.
I'll pull out the spring wreath..fresh cushions for the wicker..and hope the weather cooperates for Easter~

PS ..the adorable digital emebellishments were found at We Lived Happily Ever After~
I love her work..and they have just been blessed with a new baby boy~
Thank you Hannah.

Ricardo's No Knead DELICIOUS Bread! And my girls~

One night..a few weeks ago.. at about 9.30..in my Le Creuset small pot..I mixed  3 1/2 cup of flour.. 1/2 tsp yeast..1 3/4 cup  cold water and 1 1/2 tsp salt..mixed it up with that dough wand I have..and let it sit overnight.. cover on..the next  morning at 7,30 it had a nice yeasty smell and at least one lovely big bubble..

Then..In another bowl..I had 1/3 cup whole wheat flour ready..

My new "Ricardo" magazine had arrived..and I was just too curious..

But wait..while it was still in the pot..You fold it onto itself about 6 times..Then dump it in the floured bowl..and coat w/ flour..Cover ..let rise 45 minutes..while it was rising..I preheated the middle shelf of the oven to 450..and after just cleaning off a bit my Le Creuset stuck it in that hot oven w/ the top on for 30 minutes..at the end of the 30 minutes..you dump your boule and cover and bake 30 mins..covered..30 mins uncovered ..after about 22 minutes I felt it was dark enough..Nothing of course sticks..you brush off some of the flour at the bottom and you have a lovely boule..

I did not use the full 1/3 cup of  whole wheat flour..
If you feel like trying yet another no fail no -knead bread..and Ricado's:) Try it!
So good..
And the rise time is shorter than the others..
Always better same day..All of them..


It's the eve of Spring my desktop Mary Engelbreight calendar says..
Pourtant..  However.. it's 20F outside..
I am an optimist and know that March is the end..we may get a surprise early April..

But even that is short lived..

This weekend we will celebrate Jacques' birthday en famille..
And that will be better than Spring for him..

I made more little dolls ..this time a tad taller..  and I made them with my daughters in mind:)♥
Mylène..and Caroline..
I love making these..
They are Provence girls:) With their bérets and flowers.. one is a teacher..the other is on a contract for 18 months with an investment company..so I added a Kate Spade purse..similar to the one she bought in Florida...as I didn't really know what to add..
The only reason I said what they do..is because of the little add-ons..Truthfully I am always surprised when the first thing someone tells me about their children..or grandchildren..is that they are lawyers or doctors or have masters in this and that...or that they are super successful and are $$..
If they are happy..perfect!

Cause happy matters most.
I love that John Lennon quote..

I may not have thought so.. 30 yrs ago..but I do now.

And I quote..

"When I was 5 years old,my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life..
When I went to school,they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.
I wrote down" happy".
They told me I didn't understand the assignment..
I told them they didn't understand life~"

Bon Weekend~


Oh mygosh what happened here w/ all the white?
I can't seem to remedy this..I think it is because I emailed the recipe..and copied and pasted..and then the whole post became ..white.

C'est la neige..je crois;)

A Most Delicious Cake Roll~

It was terribly grey and heavy this past weekend..grey that makes the snow look grey..
But milder..so Savannah is starting to see the light of day:)

But looks nowhere in shape like she does when the peonies bloom~

Our views become technicolor instead of monochromatic..
The briliant blue sky winter days..have been plentiful though this year..compared to the dreary days..
It was a gorgeous..frigid winter.

This easy to make delicious cake roll..is something Jacques LOVED this week.
I found it on Coup De Pouce  (a QC magazine)..dated 2005 on the internet.
One of our specialties is sucre à la crème....it is a Christmas delicacy and really all through the year.
I can compare it to fudge..but it's not..anyone who has had it will tell you there is a difference and in this case..Vive La Différence~
The cake roll is effortless to make..if you have never made one..this would be the perfect one to try;)
The filling is just as easy..and then you would see how it tastes..It's a bit like sugar pie..but different.
It would be perfect during the holidays..but even at Easter as it is sugaring off time here..
You could sprinkle maple flakes on top..or add a macaron on some buttercream..just a touch to hold the macaron..a sprinkling of confectioner's sugar is all this cake needs as an icing.
It holds together very well ..as you can see the outside cut had less filling..next time I will spread more to the outside.But I always remove a thin slice ..thin ..thin thin..from the outer edges for a prettier presenttion.
This super easy recipe got 5 *****stars .11 evaluations.
Some added ice cream..vanilla♥ to go with.
Jacques loved it as is.

La Recette~

4 eggs
1 cup plus 2 tbsps sugar
1 cup of flour
1 tsp baking powder
icing sugar

The filling

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 lb of butter
 1/4 cup  milk..I used 3%

Beat the eggs and sugar for ap 3 minutes until the mixture is pale.
Add the flour that you have sifted with the baking powder.
Blend well.
Spread the dough in a buttered 15x10 inch jelly roll pan..(I used parchment instead of buttering)
Bake in a  preheated 350 F oven for 8 minutes or until the cake is golden..it took about 12 minutes for mine..
Unmold warm on a clean dishtowel that you have sprinkled  with the extra 2 tbsps of sugar.. ..roll up taking the towel along with it:)without squeezing though..

Place on a cooling rack..and cool completely.

For the filling..bring the ingredients to a boil in a heavy bottomed pot..Boil for one minute.
Remove from heat and beat w/ an electric mixer until it thickens..
Spread warm mixture on your completely cooled unrolled cake..and roll up again...this time w/out the tea towel.Place on a serving tray and Sift icing sugar over..I like to add something on top..a meringue..a macaron or two..;)
That's it ..slice and serve.
Honestly one of the easiest ones I have made.
Make it your first:)
I think I may redo for his birthday en famille but dress it up~

Rita..and her posts..always inspire me to try and learn:)

I could not get the book she recommended but found this one..by the same author..

And some new paints~

Now to sit ..and be quiet..and focus..and learn~:)
PS
Who am I kidding?
I think I have this picture in my head of wanting to learn..and ..........what?
This is way over my head~
Everyone's style..talent..dexterity...is so unique..I think you have to know your style and stick with it.
How do you find that?
That's the $64,000.00 question

All I want..is to paint like Waterlogue.
Is that too much to ask?:)

Brown Paper Packages:)

I made make agains this past week..
Remember Spinach strawberry salad with poppyseed dressing?
A classic..we still love it..
Yes my eggs are square:)
In this month's Ricardo magazine..they were focusing on certain fun gadgets..I said to Jacques..:"I have that".I bought it at least 30 yrs ago I think.It's "nouveau" again.

Now if I had only kept my hot pants..(kidding of course)..

I tried David Lebovitz's take on Chicken Marsala..and it was very good w/ egg noodles..I have tried others..but this one was good enough to make again.
And..
I've mentioned this pie before..and even shared it..
But it is worth repeating

As I just made it again and he still loves it again:)
Jacques loves crumbed topped pies..
I have a few that have this upper crust;) But I only make one Brown Bag Apple Pie.
This one was made w/ Ricardo's cream cheese dough..and Kim's Brown Bag Apple Pie Recipe from her mom..You can use any pie dough you enjoy.
I find Ricardo's pie doughs to be fail proof for me.

I used to have a trepidation or two that the bag would ignite..but after so many times.. it never has.Even at that temp~
So if you feel like experimenting..and having a broad smile when you peel the brown bag away..Try this one..
Pies are so "Home" style I find.

I wanted to ask you a question..while in Florida..I tried the Trader Joe's Cornbread mix..and although it crumbs about in a messy way when eating..it is really good..
I have this cast iron pan..and many recipes stick..I do oil it and warm it..but still some do.I did find a recipe that pops out well..but the taste is very bland..Too bad cause it even lookled like corn..Do any of you have a tried and true cornbread recipe?:) A delicious one?:)That tastes like the mix of TJ's?
If so I'd love it.I'm not a mix girl.

Thank you.

Did you see this? Love it.

And this? Having superheroes in the family..this really got to me..

I just love being moved to tears.
By kindness.
Bon Weekend♥

Dulce De Leche Bundt..and this and that~and this and that..

I finally..purchased a Wannabe Heritage Bundt pan..in silicone..and took this Dulce De Leche bundt cake for a test drive in it..
The pan workes great!I am fond of all my silicone..  a charm to use!
However I overbaked my cake as you can see by some of the ends..
Could it be the caramel in it?
Not sure..but the middle wasn't firming up..I kept putting it back in..and out and in..
Anyway flavor is good..But I would have liked it a bit less baked.
Next time convection all the way~:)
I want to make 2 small cakes and some mini fairy cakes apart from cookies for Easter..Painted..and not..
One in my mini heritage..and the other in a new mold..
Not sure which cake to bake..  I have my thinking cap on..
I loved the lamb..from Susan Branch..
The Hen Pie..that one was hens pie:)

I think I will do the mini Heritage in a lemon type..and the new molds..in a coconut type..
Tap tap tap..


We found figs .. from Turkey I think ..in our local grocery store..so I made a few salads that we like with them.. and blueberries ...and that dressing of Chris's we love so much..
Delish!


I have been reading a lot..It has been an unusually cold winter..
Warming up though!
So I have been reading..

I think I am getting difficult w/ time..
I have read books that have gotten rave reviews..and I am looking inside me to actually be able to give a review..I don't dislike it..but I don't love it..and I don't even like it~
So I say nothing..
My mom always told me if you have nothing nice to say..say nothing.

I have loads of books I have loved..
But lately?
Not so sure..
Anyways..
We Were Liars worked for me..it did not work for  some..when I read the Goodreads reviews..but I kept turning the pages late into the night.
I like that.
I crave books that keep me reading..So many do not.
I have started testing new wafer papers..as Fancy Flours ..the shipping to Canada is not even thinkable..
Shipping from the UK ..is doable..
Check EBAY  ..

You can even Waterlogue♥

I ♥ those Cath Kidson lookalike wafer papers for cookies.
Lots of links I know..
But I learn from links:)
If not for something one of you have said..or showed..or shared..
I would have never known.Even Waterlogue!
Merci beaucoup pour tout!

Donella Loves Tea~

My friend Donella loves tea in the afternoon..and little biscuits and things..
Meringues and candies.
She loves to garden..and read..pinks,plums and pearls.
Her grandchildren.Her children..
Maine,Vancouver,Halifax and Hawaii..her town here.
Making quilts and painting.
She loves her computer..and her indoor plants..
Her cozy place,her treasured things.
I love to visit Donella..
I worked with her 100 years ago,,from the get go..as a  green 28 yr old..this seasoned realtor was welcoming to me.
Unlike others who always felt..like: "Do we really need another agent in this small town?"
If not for her..my manager dear Rosemarie..and our secretary at the time..
I don't know if I would have lasted...those first few years..

Eventually Derek and Ray etc..made working there  plausible to my sensitive nature.
And then others:)

Donella would have me to lunch..made me feel welcome..
She retired eventually and I kept working.
We kept in touch.
She's had a hard time the last few years..but what a trooper..and she could give Violet a run for her money with her sometimes feisty repertoire of come back lines;)
Honest.. true blue..and a fighter.
She has turned out to be quite the role model for perseverance.
And complain? Never.She tells it like it is ..but you won't hear :"Woe Is me",when others would not even get out of bed.

Anyways..visiting Marie's blog as I always do..she shared  little dolls she makes..I was instantly smitten.I have linked you to a story Marie wrote♥..Keep looking at later posts..She has made Alice In Wonderland..Dorothy ..A Bumble Bee  doll..etc etc..
Un Coup De Foudre.
So I started making little effigies for people..that these dolls came to mind for me.
Lady Donella was one of them.
I add a little card..and a tag..
She put her under her lamp leaning against the base.
You are never too old for dolls..
This one is 6 inches high if that.

Nancy got one.. a small paintbrush in her apron..and a backpack for all her travels..
She has even been out I am told.

I am so thankful to Marie..in sharing her creativity..it gave me the inspiration to try.
♥

Noah..has had the time of his life with his mommy at Disney,this Spring break.
I don't think I would have ever had the independance to take one of my children..on my own to Disney..she planned everything ..booked everything..all the photos ..Memory Maker.All the meals w/ famous characters.
Mylène has Disney in her blood..:) I loved seeing all the pics she shared and all the little notes..I had never Face Timed..I did! How great is that!!
She sent photos that brought back memories from when we went as a family..
Seems like 100 years ago..I was 34..the girls were 13 and 11..

I love this one  above..Tinkerbell♥

I won't leave you w/out a recipe..Perfect for this weekend..just cause it's a weekend..
These are my daughter Caroline's waffles ..they turn out perfect!  They are from her co-worker Loredano..
You can even freeze the batter.
We all have that Flip waffler.Mine is Oster..Caro..Hamilton Beach I think..and her friend..no clue..

They are perfect..did I say that?

La Recette~

I will give you the recipe as I got it..I halved it..and still Jacques and I can make 2 meals out of them.This recipe is more for when the boys sleepover etc..Jacques and I are light breakfast eaters.
We actually tested for a lunch..We each had 1..I had half.
I keep saying half..

4 eggs
4 cups all purpose flour
3 1/2 cups of milk
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsps white sugar(they sometimes put more)
8 tsps baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract.

I simply mixed all the ingredients;)
That's how easy they are..But remember I made half..and was able to freeze some~

Blood Oranges~

Talk about fruit beauty..Blood Oranges..Oranges Sanguines~

I ♥ the look of them and what we do with them..

One day..I decided to go through old magazines I have been keeping (hoarding?  No..keeping..)

I threw out all my Bon Appétits..save a few..since before 1999!

and oh so many Food and Drink..since 1999 on..

It pained me..but I did go through many to see..if I should keep or let go..

This magazine ..the latter..is free when you shop at an LCBO.

I am quite distraught we missed the last one..Winter 2015..

But..not all is lost as I did keep this recipe because of the blood oranges..

Blood orange..radish..red onion..celery ..and mint salad.From Food and Drinl 2005 I think..

C'est une belle salade!

I made 2 one for Jacques and one pour moi..

You need..one blood orange each..

Some radishes..to your taste..some thin slices of red onion..some finely diced celery..and some fresh mint..

Take 2 tbsps of fresh blood oj.. and 1/4 cup of Olive Oil..and freshly ground pepper..

Drizzle over your pretty salad~

C'est vraiment bon!

I wanted to put the rest of the blood oranges to good use..so I tried painting them..

In this space you will see nothing;)

Then I read about blood orange marmalade..

next time..I will try and find my fave marmalade recipe that I have safely placed somewhere amidst oh 40 yrs of recipes..and make that one..

I did however read about marmalade in the microwave..since I only use that below the counter appliance for reheating..

I thought I would give this marmalade a try..

So..I took 2 blood oranges..

Depitted..and de middle pithed....and chopped..

I ended up w/ 1 full cup of blood orange pieces..

The recipe said to add an equal amount of sugar..to place in a  microwave safe bowl..

I used my 4 qt Pyrex..and let it go for the 8 minutes..

NEXT time..I will start checking and stirring after 5 minutes..I bet 5-6 minutes would have been ample..

It's a tad thick..but good and quick..next time even quicker:)

I have a great rhubarb microwave jam recipe..and as soon as I find it this summer and make it:) I will share~

I am still so in love with mini Bonne Maman jars.

I parted with one ..I brought scones to Donella one day and packaged them up w/ a wee jar..

I kid you not..Jacques walked by the little package and said: "C'est trop cute"~

He even likes the minis:)

The cute Hello and wreath are from We Lived Happily Ever After~

Thank you Hannah.

Sunday.. after  3 of the boys left our home after having had a sleepover..

I made these  from Averie Cooks and they were a hit with not only the 3 boys..but Noah also who came to say bye before his trip to Disney..

I didn't have chunks..used chips..it took 100 to line them up:)

I was browsing  my new Dorie Greenspan book..  Baking Chez Moi  and there was a recipe for a loaf cake that used oranges or clementines..  The St-Pierre Poppy Seed Cake~I thought why not use the last Blood Orange? I loved the name and the anectdote enough to try it~

It's a lovely little loaf cake..and since the mold I was using was a touch smaller than the recommended pan..I made 4 minis too..

I will bring a couple to Donella.

This is the 3rd of Dorie's books that I have..and really everything just turns out perfect.

The recipe is very easy and what I like ..is that there's a little twist here and there w/ Dorie's recipes..Like having our impeccably clean hands rub the sugar w/ the rind..Makes so much sense..flavors naturally and perfectly.

You could easily and happily add some of that powder you can see here.

That all you need is a whisk and  a spatula..I love to get away from the noise somethimes..

The double sheets..and a silicone mat..etc..

Little niceties that assure a perfectly baked good.

You probably have everything you need right in your home if you have oranges and poppy seeds.

Her husband tasted this cake/loaf and brought some home and asked her to make it..She is good..:)

So Downton is done..for this Season~

Quelle tristesse.

I'll miss it!

I won't say anything incase some of you have PVRd it like both my daughters;)

I will say I would have loved to see it even more I think ..this Christmas..

And Jacques had said it was 2 hrs.. it was 1.5 hrs..I wanted it to last longer.

A friend asked me to look at this..and I thought I would share with you in case you had not seen it..

Have you seen this Downton video?

Quelle parodie!